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Speaker 1: All right, guys. Before we get started today, I want

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Speaker 1: to remind you that you can try YouTube tv for

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Speaker 1: That's a touchdown YouTube TV. Try it free, New users

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Speaker 1: only terms apply, cancel anytime. What's up? Guys? Welcome into

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Speaker 1: a brand new episode of Chargers Weekly powered by YouTube TV.

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Speaker 1: Alongside Matt Money. Smith has always I'm Chris Harry Money.

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Speaker 1: People would think that maybe we recorded this last week

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Speaker 1: because you're still in Indie. This is not a joke.

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Speaker 1: You've been there for a week telling people what you're

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Speaker 1: doing the great state of Indiana. Yeah. So, for those

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Speaker 1: that have been watching the video portion of our pod,

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Speaker 1: you see there as a hotel room in the background,

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Speaker 1: and it is now a different hotel room as I

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Speaker 1: am at the Omni, I wasn't the Hyatt Hiatt for

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Speaker 1: the combine, which was Thursday through Sunday went up so

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Speaker 1: on my folks Sunday night through uh last night to

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Speaker 1: night Wednesday, and I'll be calling the Big Ten Tournament,

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Speaker 1: the early rounds today and tomorrow with my man Mike

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Speaker 1: Wosniak uh the cal Poly San Elizabeth bo all time

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Speaker 1: leader and three point buckets. And then I'll be heading

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Speaker 1: home finally Thursday, after what nine nine and a half

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Speaker 1: ten days I think ten days in Indianapolis. You want

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Speaker 1: to that's do you want to reveal your your room number?

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Speaker 1: Maybe Chargers fans will send you at boordash or or

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Speaker 1: so you go. Yeah, they can figure out how to

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Speaker 1: find me. You know what, I'll leave that part of

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Speaker 1: the challenge up to them. Hey, we'll get to the

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Speaker 1: combine because you were busy certainly during those days. But

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Speaker 1: let's start with the news of the week. Mike Williams

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Speaker 1: is back with the Chargers multi year deal. I'm going

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Speaker 1: to keep Mike here for a while and I think

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Speaker 1: really set him up for maybe another contract in the

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Speaker 1: prime of his career. So I think it's a great

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Speaker 1: move considering what he did last year, had a career year.

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Speaker 1: I'm curious to your thoughts. Well, I'm not surprised, you know,

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Speaker 1: we had heard that through the combine, we heard it

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Speaker 1: through the season, we heard it immediately after the season,

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Speaker 1: and Mike certainly saved this best for last in that

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Speaker 1: Raider game, and I saw you tweeted out It's the

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Speaker 1: first thing I thought about when I saw the contract extension.

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Speaker 1: Is just someone who earned it. You know, he earned

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Speaker 1: that money. He's an elite receiver. He's in number one,

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Speaker 1: and he is someone that Justin Herbert implicitly trusts and

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Speaker 1: goes to time and time again when the chips are

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Speaker 1: down and he needs a completion. So you know, that's

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Speaker 1: that's the market. It's nice for the Chargers that the

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Speaker 1: cap went up to two hundred and eight million. Gives

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Speaker 1: them a little bit extra to spend. And I think

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Speaker 1: the way this thing shakes out, you know, if they

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Speaker 1: just franchised him, you're talking about a twenty million dollars hit.

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Speaker 1: My guesses it'll probably be about half that. And that's

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Speaker 1: why you're talking about this setting them up for another contract.

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Speaker 1: My guess is this is like a two and then

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Speaker 1: let's redo it and extend it again. And that's one

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Speaker 1: of the things about the NFL that I think is

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Speaker 1: maybe hard for fans to kind of stort through. It's like, oh,

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Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers fifty million a year or Matt Stafford forty

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Speaker 1: five million a year. Yet teams know how to do

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Speaker 1: you can. Contracts aren't set in stone like they are

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Speaker 1: in other leagues where they're guaranteed. You can constantly redo

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Speaker 1: numbers and move stuff around to squeezing guys that you

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Speaker 1: want to extend or free agents that you want to sign.

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Speaker 1: So the one thing I'll say that, like, if I'm

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Speaker 1: being totally honest, I'm anxious to see kind of what

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Speaker 1: goes on with Keenan, you know, and how, because it's

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Speaker 1: a lot of money to have two guys making over

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Speaker 1: twenty million bucks a year at the wide receiver position.

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Speaker 1: I always seen the Bucks do it with Mike Evans

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Speaker 1: and Chris Godwin who just got a second franchise had

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Speaker 1: but it is very very rare to see that kind

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Speaker 1: of money locked into one position. So I wondering if

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Speaker 1: maybe there's another move there, maybe a restructure something. You

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Speaker 1: don't have, something along those lines, because I just I

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Speaker 1: don't quite think they're finished at wide receiver because of

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Speaker 1: how much money is locked up in that position. You know,

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Speaker 1: I tell you this, I think it also speaks to

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Speaker 1: the window that they have with Justin on a rookie deal,

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Speaker 1: right with Keenan and Mike and who knows, you know,

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Speaker 1: we talked about Chris lave and all these other stud

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Speaker 1: receivers in the first round. Who knows if they go

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Speaker 1: in that direction. But the fact that that Justin has

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Speaker 1: this window as a rookie, and we saw what he

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Speaker 1: did his rookie here with Keenan and how they got

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Speaker 1: off to just a hot start. That instant chemistry. We

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Speaker 1: saw that in year two with Justin and Mike. And

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Speaker 1: you know, Mike had a one hundred and twenty nine targets.

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Speaker 1: He was trusted in the fourth quarter to go up

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Speaker 1: and get it and make big plays. And you know,

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Speaker 1: we can count to so many different moments throughout the season, money,

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Speaker 1: but I think you'd probably agree that that Week eighteen

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Speaker 1: game where he laid it all on the line, I

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Speaker 1: think he had a career high seventeen target gets, had

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Speaker 1: that memorable touchdown with no time left to go to overtime,

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Speaker 1: a big forty seven yard reception inversion. Oh, I mean

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Speaker 1: I think that that that's the game that said, okay man,

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Speaker 1: Mike is one of us. He's here to stay and

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Speaker 1: we can't let him get out the building. And he's

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Speaker 1: a great guy, you know, I mean it's a he's

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Speaker 1: a great guy, and no doubt everybody on the team

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Speaker 1: appreciates him. His demeanor, he's always like, you know, it

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Speaker 1: sounds so corny, but he's always smiling. He's just so

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Speaker 1: affable and and and great to be around. To be honest,

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Speaker 1: it never feels like he's in a bad mood. You know.

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Speaker 1: It's always nice to have people like that around. You know,

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Speaker 1: maybe you're feeling a little bit down or someone else

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Speaker 1: is giving you a grief. It's nice to have guys

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Speaker 1: like that. And I think the other thing kind of

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Speaker 1: speaks to that. The extension for Mike speaks to what

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Speaker 1: Tom Telesco said at the combine and his pressor, and

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Speaker 1: that's you know, but we're not gonna ignore the offense

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Speaker 1: because it was top five. I mean, look the division,

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Speaker 1: I know we're gonna get into it. Just Scott Russell Wilson. Yeah,

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Speaker 1: on the Broncos, you're gonna have to score points to

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Speaker 1: win this division. You're gonna to score lots of points,

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Speaker 1: no matter how good your defense is. Patrick Mahomes, Russell

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Speaker 1: Wilson now and all those weapons. And we know what

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Speaker 1: Josh McDaniels. All he's done is won six Super Bowls

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Speaker 1: calling offense. So you know you're gonna have to put

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Speaker 1: up big numbers to win games in this division and

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Speaker 1: in turn win the division. So yeah, it was it

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Speaker 1: was paramount that Mike returned. Yeah, and you're right Thomas said,

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Speaker 1: we can't take a step back. Well to get Mike,

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Speaker 1: you gotta just keep it even now. We'll see what

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Speaker 1: they do in free agency in the draft, and we

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Speaker 1: can get into the AFCUS. Now, man, I mean the

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Speaker 1: fact that Russell Wilson is now at Denver Bronco. You

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Speaker 1: look at the weapons that they have on offense. They

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Speaker 1: were already pretty set defensively. I am interested to see

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Speaker 1: what that looks like without Vic Fangio there. But you

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Speaker 1: look at that division now, I mean you said it,

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Speaker 1: Josh McDaniels. I think people would would, maybe if you're

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Speaker 1: looking at a first glance, say, okay, mahomes Herbert Wilson car.

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Speaker 1: But the McDaniels factor there. I just find this to

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Speaker 1: be a fascinating division, maybe the toughest in football. Right now, Look,

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Speaker 1: I'll throw the red meat out. I mean there's only

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Speaker 1: one thing you can agree on, and that's who the

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Speaker 1: fourth best quarterback? I mean, and that's because I think

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Speaker 1: everybody else. You know, look, Justin Herbert had the best

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Speaker 1: season of any of those quarterbacks last year, so you're

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Speaker 1: not crazy for pick and Justin ahead of Mahomes who

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Speaker 1: struggled a little bit for the first half of the

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Speaker 1: year and then struggled obviously a little bit on the

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Speaker 1: back half there. So you know, are a lot of

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Speaker 1: people gonna do that, No, but I think there's a

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Speaker 1: few that if you just said, hey, twenty twenty two,

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Speaker 1: which quarterback do you want? I'm not talking about long

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Speaker 1: term or any I'm just saying you get to have

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Speaker 1: this quarterback for twenty twenty two. I think it'd be

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Speaker 1: interesting to see what order it would go in the

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Speaker 1: Russell Wilson things. Interesting because you know, you had Shane

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Speaker 1: Waldron go up there last year and try to implement

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Speaker 1: a new wall offense, and ultimately Russ just wouldn't let

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Speaker 1: it happen. It went back to Russ holding the ball

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Speaker 1: and trying to run around and throwing the ball downfield

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Speaker 1: instead of you know, kind of what we saw and

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Speaker 1: what we see with the Rams and the packers and

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Speaker 1: getting it out quick, and that's just that's not him.

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Speaker 1: And with Nate Hackett going to Denver, that's what he

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Speaker 1: wants to do. It's what he's always wanted to do,

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Speaker 1: and that's not Ross. So I'm anxious to see, you know,

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Speaker 1: which side of that gives um to you know, to

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Speaker 1: kind of accommodate the other side, because they're gonna be

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Speaker 1: asking Russell Wilson to do something he's just hasn't been

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Speaker 1: willing to do. UM, But he's certainly you know, he's

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Speaker 1: got weapons. I mean, my goodness, the fact that they

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Speaker 1: didn't have to give up Judy Patrick or Courtland Sutton

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Speaker 1: and they still have all three of those guys, and

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Speaker 1: you still got Javonte Williams, who's as nasty back as

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Speaker 1: there is in the division. Um, that's gonna be it's

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Speaker 1: gonna be tough. And and you said it. You know,

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Speaker 1: it's something we've been saying for a while now. And

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Speaker 1: you know, as dominant as that defense was, it's the

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Speaker 1: best secondary in football, you know, with with corners and

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Speaker 1: safeties included. That Fangio's gone, there's a reason why everybody's

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Speaker 1: in a lot of teams are starting to run that

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Speaker 1: system because he's he's it man, he's the best in

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Speaker 1: the business. So you know that's probably gonna take a

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Speaker 1: little bit of a step back as well. So it's

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Speaker 1: gonna be nasty. I would, I would already I'll bookmarket.

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Speaker 1: Chargers are getting five primetime games. I don't think there's

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Speaker 1: any doubt about it. They'll get their mandatory Thursday and Monday,

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Speaker 1: and then they'll get the additional three, be it two

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Speaker 1: Mondays and a Sunday, two Sundays and a month whatever

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Speaker 1: it may be. They will be playing in this division

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Speaker 1: with those quarterbacks, They're gonna be playing five prime timers,

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Speaker 1: and half of them will probably be in the division, right,

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Speaker 1: I mean, that's what I mean. They're gonna, Yeah, they're

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Speaker 1: gonna run back Raiders Chargers. They're gonna put Mahomes Herbert

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Speaker 1: in prime time. They'll put Russ Herbert in prime time

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Speaker 1: at some point, you know, so doubt the division is

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Speaker 1: wild in the conference too. I mean, like you're bringing

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Speaker 1: Russ to an AFC that already has Josh Allen and

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Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow and all these guys we

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Speaker 1: mentioned in the West. Um, I mean, you know two

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Speaker 1: is two are going to take that next step. Mac

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Speaker 1: Jones was in the Pro Bowl as a rookie. I mean,

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Speaker 1: you know the what's his name from from the Jets,

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Speaker 1: Zach Zach, Zach Wilson, Zach Wilson, almostaid, Zach Taylor, Zach Lawrence, Yeah, Jacksonville.

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Speaker 1: I mean like it's it's incredible and I think it's Look,

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Speaker 1: I'll put it this way. I breathed the sigh of

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Speaker 1: relief when Aaron Rodgers didn't go to Denver for the Chargers,

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Speaker 1: that that would have been a tough one, totally comfortable

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Speaker 1: in the offense, better all around cast on offense, back

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Speaker 1: to back MVP, you know, would have just slid right

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Speaker 1: into Nathaniel Hackett system and just gone to work. Um,

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Speaker 1: I am much more comfortable with it being Russell Wilson. Now.

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Speaker 1: The goal isn't to just win division games, goes to

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Speaker 1: win a Super Bowl And you just said it as

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Speaker 1: you have to figure out how to get through Josh

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Speaker 1: Allen and that buzz saw that was the Bills last year,

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Speaker 1: through an ascending Cincinnati Bengals with Joe Burrow. You know,

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Speaker 1: at the helm. I still think the Browns roster is

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Speaker 1: so incredibly talented on both sides of the ball, and

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Speaker 1: that's outside the division. So it's Look, it ain't gonna

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Speaker 1: be easy, that's for sure. It never is in the NFL,

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Speaker 1: but man, it's a heck of a lot easier in

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Speaker 1: the NFC. I mean, you've got Aaron Rodgers, You've got

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Speaker 1: Matthew Stafford, and then you know you're crossing your fingers

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Speaker 1: that that Trey Lance takes a step that Kevin O'Connell

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Speaker 1: can maybe unlock. You know a little bit with Minnesota

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Speaker 1: that they weren't able to offensively, but it's just just

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Speaker 1: very little. You know, I'm over hearing about the Cowboys.

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Speaker 1: You know, they just they disappoint every year. So well

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Speaker 1: the forty nine ers do it with Trey Lance. You know.

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Speaker 1: It's it's crazy how much tougher it is in the

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Speaker 1: AFC than the NFC, I know, And it gets even

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Speaker 1: tougher for the charges in the af CUS, which which

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Speaker 1: leads me to the offense again. And I believe Tom's

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Speaker 1: one hundred percent right, Like, I think you have to

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Speaker 1: trust that Stale is going to get to defense where

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Speaker 1: it needs to be, makes some key additions in the

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Speaker 1: draft and free agency, but I think you need to

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Speaker 1: put the pedal to the medal on offense. And you know,

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Speaker 1: getting Mike was that first step maybe adding another weapon

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Speaker 1: in the draft, getting that that second running back position solidified,

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Speaker 1: and getting that right tackle solidified. I mean, if you

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Speaker 1: can continue to bolster that offensive line, give Justin just

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Speaker 1: a little bit more time, open some running lins for

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Speaker 1: for Austin, and then that that second running back and

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Speaker 1: make heck, maybe it's Justin Jackson. Um. I do think

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Speaker 1: that the offense. You know, as much as we talked

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Speaker 1: about the defense last year, I think defensively they'll figure

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Speaker 1: something out. But offensively you got to score points. Yeah. Look, defensively,

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Speaker 1: the draft is deep. You know, it's deep with with

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Speaker 1: front seven players. Um, it's so funny. You know we

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Speaker 1: talked about and I don't I don't pay too much

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Speaker 1: attention to my to my mentions unless I feel like

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Speaker 1: there's a bit of a trend there and you're like, wow,

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Speaker 1: this is interesting that people are pushing back on this.

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Speaker 1: And I was really surprised how much pushback I got

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Speaker 1: on Jordan Davis. And I think it's just because people

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Speaker 1: don't people don't look. People are lazy, and that's just it.

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Speaker 1: Because It's easy to be lazy. It's easy to consume,

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Speaker 1: you know, a couple tweets or a two minute conversation

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Speaker 1: with one exo on the you know, ESPN or Fox

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Speaker 1: or NFL Network or wherever you're watching it, and say, oh,

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Speaker 1: that's who that player is. I don't think people realize,

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Speaker 1: like how explosive and how athletic Jordan Davis is and

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Speaker 1: why is he coming off for third down? What did

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Speaker 1: you see? Did you see Walker? Did you see whyatt?

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Speaker 1: Did you see freaking Tremaine Johnson who had to leave

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Speaker 1: Georgia to go to Florida State because he goodn't on

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Speaker 1: the field and he'll probably be the first edge rusher

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Speaker 1: take or second edge rusher take. Like, I don't think

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Speaker 1: people realize, you know, how how big and how talented

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Speaker 1: that dude is um and now he's not even going

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Speaker 1: to make into the Chargers, so it's it's gonna be

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Speaker 1: a moot point. Like he won't make it to seventeen now,

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Speaker 1: so it's not even worth discussing money. He may not

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Speaker 1: have to come off the field a third down. Oh

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Speaker 1: you know, like he the way the way he tested listen,

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Speaker 1: like you you you said it perfectly you have five

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Speaker 1: star dudes all over that. Georgia the defense getting after

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Speaker 1: the quarterback, Jordan Davis may be able to get it

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Speaker 1: after the quarterback on third down. Yeah, I mean they

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Speaker 1: just they pulled him off because they had Walker and Wyatt.

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Speaker 1: It's just like whatever, you don't have to stay out there.

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Speaker 1: We need you on first and the second down to

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Speaker 1: blow up running plays, to chase down running backs, to

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Speaker 1: chase boot legs from quarterbacks, and we don't want to

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Speaker 1: wearry out. You know, we have the You know that

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Speaker 1: Georgia had the depth and the rotation to allow him

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Speaker 1: to do that. Um, you know, I will say, you know,

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Speaker 1: Walker's gonna go in the top five. Um, it's who knows.

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Speaker 1: Maybe maybe he slides to them and whatever the case,

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Speaker 1: there's gonna be a really good player there at seventeen

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Speaker 1: because of how deep the edge position just even a

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Speaker 1: couple of different you know, particularly with with with Jordan

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Speaker 1: Davis on the inside, but then you also have a

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Speaker 1: number of corners that are that are well regarded. You

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Speaker 1: got a safety and Kyle Hamilton, who's going to go

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Speaker 1: you know before seventeen, and the wide receivers obviously, and

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Speaker 1: the old lineman because old lineman is is pretty darn good.

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Speaker 1: You're going to end up seeing I would guess at

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Speaker 1: least three. If I would, I would bet three. Neil,

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Speaker 1: Aquanu and Penny will all go. So you start adding

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Speaker 1: that stuff up, and you know, it's kind of how

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Speaker 1: we did it last year with Slater. I remember we

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Speaker 1: did the same exercise. We're like, all right, so here's

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Speaker 1: how we think it lays out with the quarterbacks, with

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Speaker 1: the wide receivers. There's a chance that you know, either

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Speaker 1: jac Horne or Rashawn Slater or Suet, one of these

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Speaker 1: guys is gonna make it to the Chargers. And I

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Speaker 1: feel that way this year that they're going to be

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Speaker 1: able to get an edge, They're going to be able

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Speaker 1: to maybe get Davis, or they're going to be able

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Speaker 1: to get that old lineman that right tackle I think

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Speaker 1: you know at seventeen and not have to sweat it

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Speaker 1: too much, or a corner. Yeah, there's multiple positions there too.

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Speaker 1: That's why you know, I Renters said last week, the

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Speaker 1: board sets up really nicely for them because, shoot, whether

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Speaker 1: it's edge, tackle, corner, um, this is going to be

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Speaker 1: a really good player, a quality starter that you'll get

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Speaker 1: at seventeen. Um, what else stood out to you get

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Speaker 1: to combine man, and you know, and I know the

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Speaker 1: quarterback position doesn't affect the Chargers, but maybe in some

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Speaker 1: ways it does because of the teams in front of them.

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Speaker 1: Is blik willis the one guy who will guarantee be

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Speaker 1: a first rounder? Is pickets hands too small? I mean,

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Speaker 1: what are we think in there about the quarterback position?

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Speaker 1: I think we saw three first rounders. I think I

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Speaker 1: think Ritter worked himself into the first round. He had

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Speaker 1: a really good combine and I've heard his meetings were exceptional.

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Speaker 1: And you know, obviously his leadership was on display, being

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Speaker 1: able to take Cincinnati the hikes that we've never seen

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Speaker 1: a group of fiveteen reach anyone out. And he performed.

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Speaker 1: He threw the ball well a little bit, a little

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Speaker 1: bit of accuracy. Is She's not a lot, but he

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Speaker 1: has plenty of arm strength. He's a big dude. He

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Speaker 1: moves well. I thought, um, you know, I thought DJ

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Speaker 1: had an interesting comparison with Marcus Mariota that made a

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Speaker 1: lot of sense. So you know, Picket's gonna get drapped

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Speaker 1: in the first round, and and Millie Quillis is gonna

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Speaker 1: get drapped in the first time I wear. I don't know,

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Speaker 1: I don't I don't know if if Washington will take Picket.

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Speaker 1: I think they're at one eleven, um, you know, I

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Speaker 1: think I think Denver was a potential landing spot now

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Speaker 1: that they've traded out. I don't know if Seattle, you know,

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Speaker 1: wants to take one of those guys at nine now

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Speaker 1: that they've made that trade and have just Gino and

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Speaker 1: Drew Locke on the roster, so I could if one

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Speaker 1: was gonna. It's hard to say, it really is. It's

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Speaker 1: hard to say because look, pickets, pickets impressive on tape. Man,

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Speaker 1: He's really accurately through a beautiful ball. You know, he

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Speaker 1: was fine in the throwing drills. You know, he wore

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Speaker 1: the gloves kind of to point out, look, I'm fine

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Speaker 1: wearing gloves. I like the tack. Maybe his hands are

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Speaker 1: a little small, but with the gloves ons like whatever,

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Speaker 1: he can still grip it and rip it because of

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Speaker 1: how much tack is on those things. And he had

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Speaker 1: no issues with that receive wearing those, and he had

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Speaker 1: plenty of arms strength pushing the ball downfield. So if

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Speaker 1: I had to guess, I think three go in the

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Speaker 1: first round. I just don't know where. Like I could

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Speaker 1: see the Lions taking Ritter at thirty two with that

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Speaker 1: RAMS pick. Yeah, and I could see I could see

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Speaker 1: Pittsburgh if Malik Willis is sitting there at twenty maybe

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Speaker 1: going that way. So I don't know how many might

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Speaker 1: I think maybe one could go ahead of the Chargers,

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Speaker 1: but that if I had to bet, like over under,

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Speaker 1: I'd probably said it at one and a half and

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Speaker 1: I'd probably go under. Yeah. I think it was more

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Speaker 1: of a compelling situation last year when we knew Chargers

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Speaker 1: didn't need a quarterback, and you know, guys are coming

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Speaker 1: off the board and all of a sudden, John Slater

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Speaker 1: falls in your lap at thirteen. It's a little bit

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Speaker 1: of a different conversation because Hey, I think the Chargers

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Speaker 1: could go in a variety of directions and then there

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Speaker 1: may only be one or two dudes that get selected before,

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Speaker 1: which moves him up a couple of spots. But at

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Speaker 1: that point, I think the Chargers would be happy taking

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Speaker 1: a corner, right tackle, edge wide receiver. And I think

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Speaker 1: it's a nice segue into the final thing we'll talk

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Speaker 1: about is just free agency. The free agency board will

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Speaker 1: dictate what they do in the draft. I think to

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Speaker 1: some degree, what are you expecting next week? There are

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Speaker 1: some holes, especially on defense that I think they want

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Speaker 1: to get shored up. Look, I'm expecting fireworks, you know,

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Speaker 1: I really am. I think with the deal they did

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Speaker 1: from Mike trying to you know, cut his number in half,

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Speaker 1: the fact that the cap jumped as much as it

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Speaker 1: did to two o eight, I would expect them to Look, now,

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Speaker 1: will they land the guys? I don't know, you know,

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Speaker 1: but I would expect them to be taking some big swings.

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Speaker 1: I think that's d Line. I think it's Corner. You know.

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Speaker 1: It seems like there's buzz around j C. Jackson and them.

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Speaker 1: The fact that that the Bucks couldn't get something done

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Speaker 1: with Godwin so they couldn't tag Davis, which is what

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Speaker 1: I heard they wanted to do, but they just instead

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Speaker 1: decided to tag Goodwin for a second time. So I

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Speaker 1: think there's a top shelf out there. Maybe it's Steph

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Speaker 1: Gilmour if they miss out on all those you know,

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Speaker 1: we've and I think there's old Lineman that they can

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Speaker 1: target if they want to go that direction again. You know,

401
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Speaker 1: a Keen Hicks is interesting. There's a trade market out there,

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Speaker 1: you know reports that Khalil Mack might be on the

403
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Speaker 1: move from Chicago. Is they try to replenish a little

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Speaker 1: bit of the draft capitol that they lost in the

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Speaker 1: Justin Fields trade. So there's there's a lot out there

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Speaker 1: and the Chargers got a lot of money that they

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Speaker 1: can spend. Look, I wouldn't be surprised if it looked

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Speaker 1: a lot like last year, which is, you know, they

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Speaker 1: knew they needed old line, and they went out and

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Speaker 1: made Corey Linsley the highest paid center and got the

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Speaker 1: best center in football, right, that was their number one priority,

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Speaker 1: and then they filled in with Feiler and a bushe

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Speaker 1: and Jared Cook around him. And so I could see

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Speaker 1: the same thing this year. Right, they need a corner,

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Speaker 1: you know, then they need d line, So go out

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Speaker 1: drop a gang of cash on j C. Jackson and

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Speaker 1: then start filling in, you know, and see the Keem

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Speaker 1: Hicks is going to be a decent value spend, you know,

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Speaker 1: and then start sniffing around the trade market. What's what's

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Speaker 1: going on with Grady Jarrett? You know what? All those

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Speaker 1: different paths they can take. But that's I think that's

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Speaker 1: kind of what I said. I don't think they're going

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Speaker 1: to do what the Patriots did last year, you know,

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Speaker 1: or what they did like three years ago, you know,

425
00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,640
Speaker 1: when they just signed like six guys for three hundred

426
00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:26,320
Speaker 1: million dollars of total contracts. Like, I don't envision that,

427
00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:29,160
Speaker 1: but I think they'll get at least one Blue Chapper

428
00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,560
Speaker 1: in that group and fill some needs with with plug

429
00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:35,560
Speaker 1: in play starters. Yeah. The two words that Staley said

430
00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,040
Speaker 1: at a press or that really resonated was we want

431
00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:42,040
Speaker 1: a deep team, we want a complete team. So the fireworks,

432
00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:43,800
Speaker 1: I agree with you. I think we'll see some fireworks,

433
00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:45,960
Speaker 1: But I also think we'll see a lot of signings,

434
00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:50,800
Speaker 1: and I think we'll get a roster that's much deeper

435
00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:53,800
Speaker 1: than it was last year at key positions. And that

436
00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,959
Speaker 1: may mean, you know, just being really strategic, you know,

437
00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:00,280
Speaker 1: in the second third wave of free agency in Asian

438
00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,480
Speaker 1: to maybe making some fireworks early on, or you know,

439
00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:06,520
Speaker 1: evaluating the trade market. But this is why I love

440
00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,800
Speaker 1: this time of year, Man, because everybody in the league

441
00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,360
Speaker 1: has hope that you're gonna stack your roster, and it's

442
00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:15,480
Speaker 1: wild to be that, you know in the AFC West Man,

443
00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:18,320
Speaker 1: I would I think if you pulled even the raiders,

444
00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:22,359
Speaker 1: like with McDaniels, coming. I think every single team in

445
00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:26,360
Speaker 1: the AFC West thinks that they have a playoff caliber,

446
00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,960
Speaker 1: championship caliber roster. Um. You know, I think the Raiders

447
00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,600
Speaker 1: maybe a couple of pieces behind the rest of the pack,

448
00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,720
Speaker 1: But I mean it's fun when everybody has hope. Yeah,

449
00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:39,920
Speaker 1: I mean, look, the Raiders made the playoffs last year. Yeah,

450
00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:45,560
Speaker 1: the Chargers didn't, so there's a reason for them to believe. Um. Look,

451
00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,560
Speaker 1: I think yeah, on paper, it's it's it's not the best, right,

452
00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,520
Speaker 1: It's the worst roster in the in the division. You know,

453
00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:52,679
Speaker 1: I don't I hate saying worst, but it's the fourth

454
00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:55,440
Speaker 1: roster in the division, no doubt. Um. And you got

455
00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:58,520
Speaker 1: a new coach coming in um and they have a

456
00:22:58,520 --> 00:22:59,879
Speaker 1: lot of holes to fill, but they got a bun

457
00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:02,800
Speaker 1: your money to spend as well. Now, it's going to

458
00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:04,879
Speaker 1: take a hit because Derek Carr wants his number to

459
00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:07,480
Speaker 1: jump from twenty to forty million bucks a year at quarterback.

460
00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,400
Speaker 1: So that's where a lot of that money's gonna go. Um.

461
00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:14,399
Speaker 1: But the competition for free agents is going to be

462
00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:18,800
Speaker 1: stiff because of the jump in the cap. So you're

463
00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:20,919
Speaker 1: gonna have to spend. You know, you're gonna see now

464
00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,000
Speaker 1: it'll be interesting. Like the one thing that'll be interesting

465
00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:27,280
Speaker 1: is like how much of the you know, priors that

466
00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:30,800
Speaker 1: that Brandon Staley has had experience with on defense. You know,

467
00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:33,000
Speaker 1: how much does that come into play? You know, like

468
00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:36,560
Speaker 1: Darius Williams the corner from the Rams, you know, isn't

469
00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:41,280
Speaker 1: JC Jackson, isn't Stefine Bilmore, isn't Carlton Davis. But maybe

470
00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:43,440
Speaker 1: there's comfort there, you know what I mean, Like things

471
00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:46,080
Speaker 1: like that. You could end up seeing, you know, where

472
00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:51,000
Speaker 1: he's been in his prior stops, Bears, Broncos, Rams that

473
00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:54,240
Speaker 1: he knows. Oh, they're comfortable, you know, in my system,

474
00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:56,399
Speaker 1: and I know they can excel in this system, so

475
00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:58,520
Speaker 1: that that's another thing to keep an eye on. Yeah,

476
00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,560
Speaker 1: all right, man, I appreciate you doing this a little early.

477
00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,240
Speaker 1: I know it's been a busy seven eight days in

478
00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:07,240
Speaker 1: the Midwest. Look forward to seeing you back in southern

479
00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:10,800
Speaker 1: California here soon. Oh. I'll finish with this too, because

480
00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:14,560
Speaker 1: I'm sure everybody wants to know. Please, Yes, I went

481
00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:16,879
Speaker 1: to the Specialist workout, and yes I did have a

482
00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:21,280
Speaker 1: conversation with Matta Rise. How did that go? He's great,

483
00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:25,960
Speaker 1: He was a super super nice you know, engaging young man.

484
00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:27,960
Speaker 1: He put on a show. He kicked the hell out

485
00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:31,480
Speaker 1: of the ball. It was fun to watch. And uh yeah,

486
00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:36,560
Speaker 1: he's bombing sixty seventy yard field goals, bombing eighty yard puns,

487
00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:38,959
Speaker 1: kicking the ball into the second row of the stands

488
00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:42,280
Speaker 1: on kickoffs. He's got a huge leg, So it was

489
00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:44,400
Speaker 1: it was fun to watch because I've you know, I've

490
00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:47,040
Speaker 1: only seen it like one other time when like people

491
00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:50,200
Speaker 1: showed up at the at the combine early to watch

492
00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:52,400
Speaker 1: the specialist and it was Brian Anger out of out

493
00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:54,280
Speaker 1: of Calo. I think ended up getting dropped in the

494
00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:56,960
Speaker 1: third round if I remember, right by the Jags for

495
00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,320
Speaker 1: a punter. So it was just kind of funny to

496
00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,840
Speaker 1: see the buzz. But yeah, he's super neat guy and

497
00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:05,959
Speaker 1: I'm sure whoever drafts him is gonna be very excited

498
00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:07,880
Speaker 1: about it because it seems like he's got the right

499
00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:12,600
Speaker 1: makeup and like I said, put on a show. Chargers

500
00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:16,960
Speaker 1: Twitter man, that's the one name that is above everybody, right,

501
00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:20,240
Speaker 1: forget Jordan Davis or a Lave or Drake London or

502
00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:23,399
Speaker 1: you know, a right tackle, it's the putter. Like he's

503
00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:26,919
Speaker 1: getting buzz all around. Charge Really, I think just draft Twitter.

504
00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:28,920
Speaker 1: I think people are just enamored by this guy. And

505
00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,359
Speaker 1: you know, is he gonna be a fifth, sixth round pick?

506
00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:32,879
Speaker 1: Is he gonna be a fourth round pick? I mean,

507
00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:36,320
Speaker 1: I guess it's in the eye of the beholder. But like, shoot,

508
00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:40,239
Speaker 1: like it's a weapon. It is a weapon. Hey, if

509
00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:42,399
Speaker 1: you felt like, you know, if you felt like he

510
00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:44,480
Speaker 1: was gonna be Michael Dixon and you see what he

511
00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,760
Speaker 1: does for Seattle put a number on. I don't. I

512
00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:49,720
Speaker 1: don't know what that's worth. Is that worth a third rounder?

513
00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:51,840
Speaker 1: I think? So, you know, being able to flip the

514
00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:53,879
Speaker 1: field like Dixon does. I mean, he's the best plunner

515
00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,159
Speaker 1: in the league. So if that's what you think he

516
00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,119
Speaker 1: can become, then yeah, I guess you could. You can

517
00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:01,320
Speaker 1: make a case. You know that there's three there. You

518
00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:04,480
Speaker 1: know there's three phases, not two, There's three, and that

519
00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:06,439
Speaker 1: third one often comes into play and can make a

520
00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,400
Speaker 1: big difference. So it'll be interesting to see which team

521
00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:12,320
Speaker 1: decides to take that reach and be like, yeah, can

522
00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:14,280
Speaker 1: I get him with my fourth I don't know. So

523
00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:16,800
Speaker 1: it's if I had a bet, I think someone takes

524
00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:20,920
Speaker 1: him in the third. Hey, last thing for you, let's

525
00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:23,760
Speaker 1: just say you have a weapon like that in the

526
00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,720
Speaker 1: kicking game and you're the Chargers, how does your fourth

527
00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:31,080
Speaker 1: down strategy maybe change knowing that you have a guy

528
00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,720
Speaker 1: that can pin you back versus saying, hey, we're going

529
00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:37,520
Speaker 1: forward at midfield, We're going forward at our own thirty.

530
00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:42,160
Speaker 1: I have to imagine that that really plays into strategy. Baby.

531
00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:46,560
Speaker 1: In twenty twenty two, well, look, you know, coach Staley

532
00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:48,639
Speaker 1: said as much when he was asked about going for

533
00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:51,880
Speaker 1: it on the eighteen yard line of the Raiders. He said,

534
00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:54,919
Speaker 1: you know, I'm not sure if he saw it, you know,

535
00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:57,480
Speaker 1: but he was asked specifically about that play. Oh yeah,

536
00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:00,920
Speaker 1: but if it was on pet if your yeah, exactly,

537
00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,239
Speaker 1: and he said, look, we were having issues with our

538
00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,360
Speaker 1: punt operation, you know, and we almost got one blocked,

539
00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:10,760
Speaker 1: and I just felt better about our odds with that

540
00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,520
Speaker 1: offense trying to get it and with our defense not

541
00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:17,440
Speaker 1: giving up the touchdown than I did, you know with

542
00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:19,760
Speaker 1: I mean, he alluded to the fact that he was

543
00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:22,960
Speaker 1: not comfortable with the punt operation. So if you get

544
00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,280
Speaker 1: more comfortable there, maybe he's not going for it on

545
00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,159
Speaker 1: fourth and one and a half from his own eighteen

546
00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:33,520
Speaker 1: because he is confident in the punt operation, so money.

547
00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:35,960
Speaker 1: I appreciate your brother. I will see you next Thursday

548
00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:41,160
Speaker 1: for charges weekly free agency addition. Yeah, hopefully we're doing

549
00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:44,600
Speaker 1: more celebrating like we were today. All right, guys, Before

550
00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,440
Speaker 1: we get to my conversation with Daniel Popper of The Athletic,

551
00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:49,240
Speaker 1: I want to let you know that you can try

552
00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:52,560
Speaker 1: YouTube tv for free and get access to eighty five

553
00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:56,840
Speaker 1: plus live TV channels, unlimited DVR space, and game day

554
00:27:56,840 --> 00:27:59,760
Speaker 1: features like key plays. Just be sure to record the

555
00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:02,840
Speaker 1: game in the YouTube tv app, catchup on all the

556
00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:05,760
Speaker 1: highlights you may have missed. Plus you can cancel it

557
00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:10,359
Speaker 1: anytime with no hidden feats. That's a touchdown. YouTube tv

558
00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:15,320
Speaker 1: try for free, New users only terms apply, cancel anytime,

559
00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,639
Speaker 1: all right. Always please be joined by Daniel Popper of

560
00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:22,639
Speaker 1: the Athletic, who I know is not in Costa Mesa

561
00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,280
Speaker 1: Right now, why don't you set the scene for where

562
00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:28,200
Speaker 1: you're at? Oh, I got a beautiful view over here

563
00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:32,400
Speaker 1: to my left, overlooking the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I'm up

564
00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:36,160
Speaker 1: in a mammoth getting a little skin in in early

565
00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,040
Speaker 1: March before we hit the grind of free agency, just

566
00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:42,200
Speaker 1: clearing my head, and honestly it's been fantastic to be

567
00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,240
Speaker 1: up here. Nothing like being in the mountains to reset yourself.

568
00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:47,959
Speaker 1: So I've been working up here obviously, haven't been absent.

569
00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,959
Speaker 1: Lolot going on with the Chargers. Yeah, mock draft up.

570
00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:53,360
Speaker 1: We got Mike Williams signing an extension, so plenty to

571
00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,000
Speaker 1: write about. But figured i'd hop up here and work

572
00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:59,240
Speaker 1: up here and get some fresh, fresh turns in out

573
00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:01,600
Speaker 1: here in the snow the mountains. And I can't complain

574
00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:03,680
Speaker 1: right now. I'm not gonna lie. Oh yeah, we know

575
00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:06,400
Speaker 1: how how hard popper works for Chargers fans. So a

576
00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:09,760
Speaker 1: well deserved vacation for a little bit at least. But

577
00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:12,240
Speaker 1: like you said, I mean, you're you're a mammoth. But

578
00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:16,400
Speaker 1: you know, Mike Williams signs this big deal right before

579
00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:19,080
Speaker 1: the deadline, and you know, listen, I think it's a

580
00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:23,920
Speaker 1: good deal for both sides and for Mike. When you

581
00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:26,920
Speaker 1: look at his twenty twenty one season, what he was

582
00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:29,600
Speaker 1: able to accomplish, how clutch he was in the fourth quarter,

583
00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,760
Speaker 1: and how Justin really built a rapport with him in

584
00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:36,760
Speaker 1: twenty twenty one similar to what he did with Keenan

585
00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:41,320
Speaker 1: in twenty twenty it's kind of a no brainer. Yeah,

586
00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:44,320
Speaker 1: I think on all the major points there, just starting

587
00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:46,480
Speaker 1: with the contract itself. You know, the thing that jumps

588
00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:49,400
Speaker 1: out is obviously the forty million dollars fully guaranteed at

589
00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,760
Speaker 1: signing on a sixty million dollars deal, which is a

590
00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:54,000
Speaker 1: pretty big number. Usually don't see that kind of percentage

591
00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:57,160
Speaker 1: of guaranteed money. Just for context, Amari Cooper's one hundred

592
00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,720
Speaker 1: million dollars deal had the same amount of fully guaranteed money.

593
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:01,680
Speaker 1: So it's a big number. But ultimately, if you look

594
00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,000
Speaker 1: at it, and and Jason Fitzgerald over the Cap pointed this out,

595
00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:07,840
Speaker 1: it basically equates to two tags, two franchise tags. This

596
00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,479
Speaker 1: year's franchise tag would have been eighteen point four. If

597
00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:12,680
Speaker 1: they tagged him a second time, it would have been

598
00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:14,280
Speaker 1: one hundred twenty percent of that. To you're looking at

599
00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:16,560
Speaker 1: about forty million dollars in guarantee if they tagged him twice,

600
00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:18,600
Speaker 1: And that's basically how the first couple of years of

601
00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:20,720
Speaker 1: this dealer structured. But they were able to lower that

602
00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:22,280
Speaker 1: cap hit in twenty twenty two to go out and

603
00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:25,080
Speaker 1: be aggress room free agency. You know, instead of eighteen

604
00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:27,640
Speaker 1: point four, it's at fourteen millions. That's really the structure

605
00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:29,520
Speaker 1: of the deal, twenty million a year was probably on

606
00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:34,160
Speaker 1: the highest range of where I thought Mike would end up.

607
00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:36,680
Speaker 1: I thought seventeen to twenty was sort of fair, but

608
00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:39,600
Speaker 1: obviously we know how the organization feels about him, as

609
00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:41,360
Speaker 1: he mentioned, so they end up on the higher side

610
00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:43,080
Speaker 1: of that at twenty million dollars a year. It makes

611
00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:45,040
Speaker 1: sense for both sides. And like he said, I mean

612
00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:48,880
Speaker 1: I wrote about this on Tuesday when they agreed to

613
00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:53,240
Speaker 1: the extension. The vision for him is really what led

614
00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:55,480
Speaker 1: to this deal, right. Brandon Silly comes in as the

615
00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:57,280
Speaker 1: head coach, and he has a vision for what Mike

616
00:30:57,320 --> 00:30:59,000
Speaker 1: Williams can be as a player. And it's not what

617
00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:02,240
Speaker 1: he was first three seasons in the league. You know,

618
00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:05,000
Speaker 1: the fifty fifty ball type player where you're pushing the

619
00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,200
Speaker 1: ball down field and that's really all he is, and

620
00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:09,520
Speaker 1: that's really you know, it's it's not that many catches,

621
00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:11,800
Speaker 1: and he's more of a one dimensional player in terms

622
00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:14,560
Speaker 1: of just being a deep field threat. What Brandon Stalien

623
00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:17,000
Speaker 1: visioned was a guy who could be a complete receiver, right,

624
00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:19,160
Speaker 1: a guy who could run the slants, who could run digs,

625
00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:20,640
Speaker 1: who could run out so he could run the smoke

626
00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:23,360
Speaker 1: routs and be that type of presence in in a

627
00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:25,480
Speaker 1: short and intermediate area of the field, and we saw

628
00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:28,800
Speaker 1: that come to fruition this season. And then, like you

629
00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:31,640
Speaker 1: mentioned that, that rapport in that connection with Justin Herbert

630
00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:33,280
Speaker 1: just got better and better as a season went along.

631
00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:36,160
Speaker 1: And I think it's noteworthy that with the season on

632
00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:38,480
Speaker 1: the line in the fourth quarter in Os Vegas, like

633
00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:41,520
Speaker 1: who was Justin throwing the ball too? Yeah, Williams and

634
00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:45,840
Speaker 1: I actually went back and counted thirteen targets in that

635
00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:50,240
Speaker 1: game in the final eight minutes in overtime, seven catches,

636
00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:53,640
Speaker 1: one hundred and eleven yards in that time frame, five conversions,

637
00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:55,880
Speaker 1: two of them came on fourth down first down conversions,

638
00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:58,600
Speaker 1: and then obviously the game time touchdown. He emerged as

639
00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:01,840
Speaker 1: as Justin Herbert's most ustal they target, and that's a

640
00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:04,720
Speaker 1: lot of that was just that vision that Brandon's daily

641
00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:08,240
Speaker 1: implemented way back in January and Mike Williams really growing

642
00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:10,440
Speaker 1: in that role. He was absolutely essential to this offense.

643
00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:12,600
Speaker 1: And you know, I talked, I talked about this a

644
00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:14,760
Speaker 1: bit this week. You know, Yeah, they could have moved on,

645
00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:16,719
Speaker 1: they could have found a different wide receiver to try

646
00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:18,640
Speaker 1: and replace Mike Williams with the fact is there's no

647
00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:21,000
Speaker 1: replacing him, and if you do replace him, you have

648
00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:23,680
Speaker 1: to rebuild that connection with Justin Herbert all over again.

649
00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:27,680
Speaker 1: I think that was also a big part of this extension,

650
00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:31,400
Speaker 1: was sort of maintaining that connection and not having to

651
00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:33,480
Speaker 1: restart it and then making sure that you're you're still

652
00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:35,280
Speaker 1: you know, you have that same offense from last year,

653
00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:36,720
Speaker 1: and that you can just build on top of that

654
00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:39,240
Speaker 1: to create maybe not the fourth best offensive league with

655
00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:42,160
Speaker 1: the best offensive football. Let's go back to the Vegas

656
00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:44,760
Speaker 1: game real quick, because I sat down with Mike yesterday

657
00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:48,480
Speaker 1: and I basically said that Vegas game really kind of

658
00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:52,400
Speaker 1: encapsulates what you mean to this organization, right, I mean,

659
00:32:52,520 --> 00:32:55,920
Speaker 1: especially latent gifts. He was targeted seventeen times. So you

660
00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:59,680
Speaker 1: said it was eleven targets in the last eight minute

661
00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:01,800
Speaker 1: seen target. It came in the last eight minutes of

662
00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:04,160
Speaker 1: the fourth quarter in overtime. I mean, that's that's humble.

663
00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:07,280
Speaker 1: So it was a cracker seventeen targets in the game,

664
00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:11,640
Speaker 1: but to have thirteen come really when it's money time,

665
00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:14,960
Speaker 1: I mean to catch the ball, uh, with zeros on

666
00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,400
Speaker 1: the clock to go to overtime to have that forty

667
00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:21,840
Speaker 1: seven yard catch in overtime and he was exhausted, But

668
00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:26,280
Speaker 1: it shows I think, the complete receiver that he is,

669
00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:29,640
Speaker 1: what he means to the team when the chips are

670
00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:34,080
Speaker 1: stacked and it's it's time to go. And I just

671
00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:36,560
Speaker 1: I've been so impressed with Mike because Mike's such a

672
00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:39,160
Speaker 1: good dude first and foremost, and I'm really happy for him.

673
00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:44,840
Speaker 1: But but the way that he came through for this team. Um,

674
00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:47,080
Speaker 1: I joked with him to us, said, we said, somebody

675
00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:49,760
Speaker 1: walk offs with them because of you know, the Pittsburgh

676
00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:51,800
Speaker 1: game and the Cleveland game. I mean, you can go

677
00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:54,120
Speaker 1: to Kansas City. He had a pair of fourth quarter

678
00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:59,640
Speaker 1: touchdowns earlier in the year. Um, So for Mike to

679
00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:03,120
Speaker 1: get this and you look at twenty twenty one, I

680
00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:06,680
Speaker 1: mean it just makes perfect sense. Yeah, no one. I

681
00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:08,360
Speaker 1: think you hit on a really important point, which is

682
00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:12,160
Speaker 1: that you know, Mike Williams has been clutch throughout his career.

683
00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,720
Speaker 1: Like it wasn't just this last you know, this past season,

684
00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:18,000
Speaker 1: He's always been. It's like when a player needs to

685
00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:19,839
Speaker 1: be made and the ball's hanging up in the air

686
00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:22,400
Speaker 1: and he needs to go make at catch a contested

687
00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,040
Speaker 1: ball catch in a key moment late in the fourth quarter,

688
00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:27,040
Speaker 1: Like it seems like he always just comes down with it.

689
00:34:27,640 --> 00:34:31,000
Speaker 1: And you know, we can get into whether players are

690
00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:34,840
Speaker 1: actually clutch or not. I'll bet any day of the

691
00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:38,520
Speaker 1: week that Mike Williams is more clutch than than most receivers,

692
00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:40,640
Speaker 1: if not all receivers in the NFL. And the other

693
00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:42,880
Speaker 1: point you brought up, which I don't think should be overlooked,

694
00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:45,880
Speaker 1: is that Mike's toughness is a factor in this extension,

695
00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:49,080
Speaker 1: Like the fact that he plays through injuries is a

696
00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:52,319
Speaker 1: factor in this extension. Being available is a factor in

697
00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:54,360
Speaker 1: this extension, and what that means to the rest of

698
00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:57,080
Speaker 1: the team. Like in that Vegas game, like Mike was hurt,

699
00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:00,839
Speaker 1: like he he hurt his leg diving for a ball

700
00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:03,200
Speaker 1: with less than four minutes left in the end zone,

701
00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:05,799
Speaker 1: right before the Josh Palmer touchdown on that crazy throw

702
00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:07,520
Speaker 1: that Justin had on the fourth to twenty one. I'm

703
00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:09,440
Speaker 1: third and twenty one. Justin threw the ball up in

704
00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:11,919
Speaker 1: the end zone. Mike obviously sells out as he always does,

705
00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:13,480
Speaker 1: lands on his leg and he's got a bang up

706
00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:15,680
Speaker 1: meat and he left for that fourth down play. He's

707
00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:19,160
Speaker 1: on the sideline, crouching head down and clearly in a

708
00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:21,400
Speaker 1: lot of pain, and he just fought through it. And

709
00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:22,880
Speaker 1: what that means the rest of the team. Seeing a

710
00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:25,840
Speaker 1: guy like that fight through injuries and continue to perform

711
00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:28,640
Speaker 1: like that matters. It certainly matters to the front off.

712
00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:30,840
Speaker 1: It's like toughness is a factor and how you evaluate

713
00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:33,560
Speaker 1: the player. So production obviously, the skill set obviously, but

714
00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:36,000
Speaker 1: on top of that, the toughness is something that's also

715
00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:38,759
Speaker 1: part of what he does as a football player and

716
00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:42,200
Speaker 1: what he means the Chargers, and that's absolutely a factor

717
00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:45,399
Speaker 1: in him getting twenty million dollars a year in this extension. Yeah,

718
00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:48,120
Speaker 1: I guess FINAL think he's an ascending player and I

719
00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:50,359
Speaker 1: think this deal is nice for him too, because he

720
00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:52,680
Speaker 1: gets to prove himself again when he's in the prime

721
00:35:52,719 --> 00:35:55,840
Speaker 1: of his career and who knows if he gets another

722
00:35:55,880 --> 00:36:00,360
Speaker 1: big deal after this one. So it's a great opportunity

723
00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:03,360
Speaker 1: for Justin to keep his weapons together. I want to

724
00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:06,759
Speaker 1: go to the combine last week, Um, what was it

725
00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:10,000
Speaker 1: like for you? What did you glean from talking to

726
00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:13,799
Speaker 1: folks there? I know Tom and and Brandon spoke and

727
00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:16,399
Speaker 1: a lot of that's old news now that that Mike

728
00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:19,000
Speaker 1: is is signed or ready to go. But um, what

729
00:36:19,120 --> 00:36:23,360
Speaker 1: were some of your takeaways? Yeah, so obviously fantastic to

730
00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:26,160
Speaker 1: be back in Indie. Fantastic to be you know, back

731
00:36:26,239 --> 00:36:30,439
Speaker 1: talking to people, um and seeing people face to face.

732
00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:32,799
Speaker 1: You know, that's it really feels like we're finally coming

733
00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:35,680
Speaker 1: out of this Yeah, this whole thing, which you know,

734
00:36:35,719 --> 00:36:37,719
Speaker 1: for me, it just it just felt great, you know,

735
00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:40,760
Speaker 1: to be back. But in terms of football stuff, um,

736
00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:42,799
Speaker 1: you know, the one the one big thing that I

737
00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:45,040
Speaker 1: took away was just after Brandon Stellies pressor how much

738
00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:49,120
Speaker 1: he talked about cornerback, how important that position is and

739
00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:50,920
Speaker 1: now they're going to be looking for it, and it

740
00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:53,759
Speaker 1: made me feel like, hey, we're not satisfied with what

741
00:36:53,800 --> 00:36:56,920
Speaker 1: we have there. Um, between a Santa Samuel Junior and

742
00:36:56,960 --> 00:36:59,480
Speaker 1: Michael Davis obviously two young players. It's had a great

743
00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:01,759
Speaker 1: season last year. Michael Davis a bit up and down

744
00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:05,200
Speaker 1: after that extension. But I felt like, Okay, before the combine,

745
00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:08,080
Speaker 1: Chris Harris probably gonna move on, you know, he's getting older.

746
00:37:08,480 --> 00:37:10,440
Speaker 1: They're probably gonna be looking for a slot corner to

747
00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:14,040
Speaker 1: replace him. But now after talking with Staley and Slesco

748
00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:16,200
Speaker 1: and gathering some stuff in India feels like, Okay, there's

749
00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:18,479
Speaker 1: a real possibility that they'll move a Sante Samuel Jr.

750
00:37:18,520 --> 00:37:20,719
Speaker 1: Into into the slot to replace Chris Harris, and they'll

751
00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:22,680
Speaker 1: go out and they might spend in free agency to

752
00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:26,200
Speaker 1: find one of these premium outside corners. You know, I

753
00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:27,839
Speaker 1: could see a scenario where they go out and they

754
00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:30,760
Speaker 1: spend on one of these free agent corners that JC Jackson,

755
00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:34,120
Speaker 1: DJ Reid, Carlton Davis, a guy like that, and then

756
00:37:34,160 --> 00:37:36,640
Speaker 1: they also spend a draft pick in the first four

757
00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:39,040
Speaker 1: rounds on a corner with some inside flexibility because they

758
00:37:39,080 --> 00:37:41,640
Speaker 1: really feel like they need a more top end talent

759
00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:44,520
Speaker 1: and be more depth there to weather you know, injuries,

760
00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:45,960
Speaker 1: because that was a big issue last year when they

761
00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:47,880
Speaker 1: had injuries. They really struggled in the secondary in the

762
00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:51,000
Speaker 1: middle part of that season. You know, Tevan Campbell had

763
00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:53,640
Speaker 1: some up and down moments. You know, Trey Marshall obviously

764
00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:55,759
Speaker 1: coming in at safety, had some up and down moments.

765
00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:57,480
Speaker 1: So that they need more depth in the secondary to

766
00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:02,000
Speaker 1: weather injuries. So that's my big takeaway is that other things,

767
00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:05,120
Speaker 1: I mean, it feels like they're probably gonna wait until

768
00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:07,640
Speaker 1: next off season to do the Derwin James extension. That's

769
00:38:07,640 --> 00:38:10,040
Speaker 1: the feeling I got after talking ast to people in India.

770
00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:12,240
Speaker 1: Just feels like both sides are kind of content with letting,

771
00:38:12,440 --> 00:38:15,040
Speaker 1: you know, Derwin play twenty twenty two on this fifth

772
00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:18,879
Speaker 1: year option. Derwin will have more leverage, you know, next

773
00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:21,080
Speaker 1: off season when he has the possibility of hitting for agency.

774
00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:23,040
Speaker 1: Obviously the Chargers could tag him, but there's that option.

775
00:38:23,120 --> 00:38:25,080
Speaker 1: He'll be more of a situation close to what Mike

776
00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:29,440
Speaker 1: Williams was in, you know, this season. And you know,

777
00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:32,239
Speaker 1: for the Chargers, they get another season to make sure

778
00:38:32,280 --> 00:38:34,799
Speaker 1: that Derwin can play a full season healthy, another season

779
00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:37,120
Speaker 1: of production. And it seems like both sides are like, Okay,

780
00:38:37,120 --> 00:38:39,239
Speaker 1: we're cool playing on this nine point six million dollars

781
00:38:39,239 --> 00:38:41,759
Speaker 1: fift year option. Let's trying to hammer something out next year.

782
00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:43,719
Speaker 1: And then the third takeaway is that I really feel

783
00:38:43,719 --> 00:38:46,799
Speaker 1: like the Chargers are going to at a tight end.

784
00:38:47,680 --> 00:38:50,680
Speaker 1: It doesn't you know, obviously, Donald Parham is and Tom

785
00:38:50,719 --> 00:38:53,479
Speaker 1: Slaska said that pretty explicitly, but you know, I think

786
00:38:53,719 --> 00:38:56,200
Speaker 1: they really love Donald Parham. He had a great season

787
00:38:56,280 --> 00:38:58,279
Speaker 1: last year. He's really improving as a blocker, but it

788
00:38:58,320 --> 00:39:00,640
Speaker 1: feels like he's still a year away from be ascending

789
00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:03,160
Speaker 1: to that number one tight end role. So you know,

790
00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:06,239
Speaker 1: obviously the free agent tight end market has shifted a

791
00:39:06,239 --> 00:39:07,960
Speaker 1: little bit in the past few days after all these

792
00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:10,719
Speaker 1: guys got tagged and joke Lukasecki, so it's not as

793
00:39:11,160 --> 00:39:14,200
Speaker 1: enticing as it once was. Maybe they bring back Jared Cook.

794
00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:16,360
Speaker 1: I think they'll go more of a veteran route as

795
00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:18,960
Speaker 1: opposed to drafting another tight end after drafting Trey mckittee

796
00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:20,480
Speaker 1: last year. But they have a solid group there. I

797
00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:23,200
Speaker 1: think they'll resign Stephen Anderson. But on top of those three,

798
00:39:23,239 --> 00:39:25,319
Speaker 1: it feels like they need they really want, you know,

799
00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:27,600
Speaker 1: a fourth guy in there, a veteran guy to sort

800
00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:29,440
Speaker 1: of be that number one tight end ahead of those

801
00:39:29,480 --> 00:39:31,560
Speaker 1: three who are really ascending players. So those are the

802
00:39:31,560 --> 00:39:33,840
Speaker 1: main take aways. And one more thing. I mean, it

803
00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:36,239
Speaker 1: feels like any any position is on the table at

804
00:39:36,280 --> 00:39:40,520
Speaker 1: seventeen really feels that way, you know, And that's always

805
00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:42,160
Speaker 1: the case with this front office. You know, they're always

806
00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:43,600
Speaker 1: going to take the best player available. They're not going

807
00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:45,120
Speaker 1: to draft for need in that spot. They're just gonna

808
00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:47,799
Speaker 1: try to find the most talent they can with their

809
00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:50,839
Speaker 1: premium picks. But you know, I don't think it's necessarily Okay,

810
00:39:50,840 --> 00:39:54,399
Speaker 1: we need a defensive lineman to fix the run defense,

811
00:39:54,520 --> 00:39:57,719
Speaker 1: or we need a right tackle, you know, or you know,

812
00:39:57,760 --> 00:39:59,319
Speaker 1: we need a cornerback. I really feel like they could

813
00:39:59,320 --> 00:40:01,040
Speaker 1: go in any direction, you know, if there's a really

814
00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:04,200
Speaker 1: good receiver there at seventeen. You know, Brandon's daily and

815
00:40:04,200 --> 00:40:06,480
Speaker 1: Tom to less cups over and over and over again. Like, listen,

816
00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:08,720
Speaker 1: we're not gonna just gonna be content with this offense.

817
00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:10,600
Speaker 1: We're not going to be complacent, Like, we're gonna try

818
00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:13,080
Speaker 1: and build this thing into something even better. And that

819
00:40:13,080 --> 00:40:16,759
Speaker 1: could mean drafting some speed at seventeen Chrysolade as a

820
00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:19,479
Speaker 1: guy that could potentially be there. So that's the last

821
00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:21,680
Speaker 1: thing I took away is like, anything's on the option.

822
00:40:21,719 --> 00:40:23,480
Speaker 1: They mean, they could go edge, they can go defensive. Whyman,

823
00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:24,880
Speaker 1: they can go tackle, they can go wide receiver, they

824
00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:27,319
Speaker 1: can go cornerback. It's really, you know, any positions on

825
00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:28,960
Speaker 1: the table there, depending on how the value shakes out

826
00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:31,600
Speaker 1: in the first end. Dude, it really sets the table

827
00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:34,720
Speaker 1: for this conversation because let's let's go back to corner

828
00:40:34,760 --> 00:40:38,239
Speaker 1: real quick. I talked to Mike Renter last week on

829
00:40:38,280 --> 00:40:41,719
Speaker 1: the pod, and Mike talked about the cornerback depth in

830
00:40:41,719 --> 00:40:44,000
Speaker 1: this class, and he said he'd be comfortable with maybe

831
00:40:44,200 --> 00:40:48,360
Speaker 1: three guys to be instant starters next year and the

832
00:40:48,480 --> 00:40:52,600
Speaker 1: rest it's kind of a bigger drop off, which leads

833
00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:55,680
Speaker 1: me to believe if they're gonna go corner free agency,

834
00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:59,480
Speaker 1: maybe where we see some some fireworks next week. So

835
00:40:59,640 --> 00:41:02,240
Speaker 1: I think that's something to watch. But at the same time,

836
00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:07,080
Speaker 1: at seventeen overall, if if a guy falls to them,

837
00:41:07,640 --> 00:41:09,759
Speaker 1: I don't know if a Stingley would fall to them

838
00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:13,440
Speaker 1: or or a Sauce Garter going in the top ten? Um,

839
00:41:13,640 --> 00:41:17,640
Speaker 1: is it McDuffie from from muff that's the guy they

840
00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:19,680
Speaker 1: could be there? I think Booth, you know, if they

841
00:41:19,719 --> 00:41:22,840
Speaker 1: like Booth from Clemson. I mean, that's that's something that

842
00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:26,640
Speaker 1: maybe to keep an eye on. I love the wide receiver. Listen,

843
00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:30,200
Speaker 1: when you're in the AFC West, you're gonna score thirty

844
00:41:30,239 --> 00:41:37,200
Speaker 1: five points a game, right, So you know Jamison Williams

845
00:41:37,239 --> 00:41:40,520
Speaker 1: from from Alabama, another guy who's got speed, who would

846
00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:43,239
Speaker 1: probably be the first wide receiver off the board had

847
00:41:43,239 --> 00:41:46,480
Speaker 1: he not been hurt. Um, that's interesting. And then I

848
00:41:46,480 --> 00:41:48,560
Speaker 1: think tight end. I think you're you're spot on. I

849
00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:52,880
Speaker 1: think tight end right tackle in that running back to spot.

850
00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:56,640
Speaker 1: Like honestly, like I would not be opposed to get

851
00:41:56,640 --> 00:41:59,160
Speaker 1: in a Breeze Hale or a Kenneth Walker in the

852
00:41:59,200 --> 00:42:02,600
Speaker 1: second round. So Austin Eckler can just be Austin Eckler

853
00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:04,680
Speaker 1: all over the field. You have a guy that can

854
00:42:04,719 --> 00:42:07,920
Speaker 1: control the clock and adds another dimension to the offense.

855
00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:11,560
Speaker 1: So I really think, like I would love Justin Jackson

856
00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:14,520
Speaker 1: to stay healthy and do what he did in Houston

857
00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:17,880
Speaker 1: and be consistent because I think he's an awesome player,

858
00:42:17,920 --> 00:42:21,040
Speaker 1: he's an awesome person. Um. But I do think the

859
00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:23,440
Speaker 1: organization is going to look really long and hard at

860
00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:25,920
Speaker 1: that running back to spot. Um. So they had that

861
00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:31,640
Speaker 1: consistent presence behind Austin. Yeah, it's a fantastic point because

862
00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:35,440
Speaker 1: they need to get better there and not necessarily a

863
00:42:35,480 --> 00:42:37,880
Speaker 1: more talented player or a more productive player when he's

864
00:42:37,880 --> 00:42:39,799
Speaker 1: on the field, but a guy that's more available. That's

865
00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:42,520
Speaker 1: really the issue here because you go look at the statistics.

866
00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:45,200
Speaker 1: I mean, Justin Jackson average five point seven yards per

867
00:42:45,280 --> 00:42:47,360
Speaker 1: touch last year. That was top ten in the league

868
00:42:47,360 --> 00:42:52,560
Speaker 1: among running backs with that least the field. He's always

869
00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:55,719
Speaker 1: been like that. The productivity is undeniable when he's on

870
00:42:55,760 --> 00:42:58,399
Speaker 1: the field. It's just he's had these nagging injuries, and

871
00:42:58,440 --> 00:43:00,560
Speaker 1: you need a guy that's available there, Like you can't

872
00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:02,200
Speaker 1: have a guy that's in and out of the lineup,

873
00:43:02,239 --> 00:43:04,680
Speaker 1: that's missing games with injury. You need a guy that's

874
00:43:04,680 --> 00:43:08,239
Speaker 1: going to be available. And so because of that, you know,

875
00:43:08,320 --> 00:43:11,479
Speaker 1: I leaned towards them going the veteran route and going

876
00:43:11,480 --> 00:43:13,799
Speaker 1: into free agency because there are some options here and

877
00:43:13,920 --> 00:43:17,040
Speaker 1: finding a guy who has a history of being consistent

878
00:43:17,080 --> 00:43:19,160
Speaker 1: being available. The guy that I keep focusing on when

879
00:43:19,160 --> 00:43:21,640
Speaker 1: I look in the free agent classes Chase Edmonds because

880
00:43:21,680 --> 00:43:23,360
Speaker 1: I think he would be a really great fit in

881
00:43:23,480 --> 00:43:25,359
Speaker 1: Lobardi's scheme with his ability to catch the ball out

882
00:43:25,360 --> 00:43:29,000
Speaker 1: of the backfield. He's always on the field. You know,

883
00:43:29,040 --> 00:43:30,600
Speaker 1: he's a very available guy, and he doesn't have a

884
00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:32,200
Speaker 1: lot of mileage. He's pretty young. It feels like his

885
00:43:32,280 --> 00:43:33,880
Speaker 1: best footballs in front of me only as four in

886
00:43:33,920 --> 00:43:35,560
Speaker 1: or nineteen carries in his career. So that's a guy

887
00:43:35,560 --> 00:43:37,680
Speaker 1: that's really interesting. The other name that a lot that's

888
00:43:37,719 --> 00:43:41,920
Speaker 1: getting thrown around is Cordarrel Patterson just because of the

889
00:43:41,920 --> 00:43:44,239
Speaker 1: connections he can it's really easy to you know, draw

890
00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:47,279
Speaker 1: those lines. You know, Obviously, Brandon Staley coached him at

891
00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:50,640
Speaker 1: junior college at Hutchinson early to twenty tens. Then obviously

892
00:43:50,719 --> 00:43:52,840
Speaker 1: you know Patterson played for Ryan Ficken, the new special

893
00:43:52,840 --> 00:43:56,239
Speaker 1: team's coordinator. My only worry there is that it's only

894
00:43:56,280 --> 00:43:59,120
Speaker 1: one season the production at running back and you know

895
00:43:59,160 --> 00:44:01,799
Speaker 1: he's going to be thirty two. Is that really the

896
00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:04,719
Speaker 1: type of player the Chargers usually target? So I feel

897
00:44:04,719 --> 00:44:06,040
Speaker 1: like it's going to be a veteran. I feel like

898
00:44:06,080 --> 00:44:08,600
Speaker 1: they're going to go that route to fill that running

899
00:44:08,600 --> 00:44:10,399
Speaker 1: back to spot. Just feels like at this point it's

900
00:44:10,400 --> 00:44:13,000
Speaker 1: time for the Chargers and Justin Jackson to split up,

901
00:44:13,040 --> 00:44:15,160
Speaker 1: just just because of the injuries that he's had. But

902
00:44:15,239 --> 00:44:17,479
Speaker 1: you bring up a really good point as far as okay,

903
00:44:17,480 --> 00:44:21,080
Speaker 1: could they could they draft running back early? Could they

904
00:44:21,120 --> 00:44:23,680
Speaker 1: draft one of these talented guys early in the draft

905
00:44:23,719 --> 00:44:25,719
Speaker 1: because it doesn't feel like taking a running back and

906
00:44:25,800 --> 00:44:27,400
Speaker 1: like the fourth round or later is really makes a

907
00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:29,120
Speaker 1: lot of sense because they've tried that the last couple

908
00:44:29,160 --> 00:44:32,360
Speaker 1: of seasons. Obviously Joshua Kelley was a limpiic, But you

909
00:44:32,400 --> 00:44:36,000
Speaker 1: know it's adding a fourth to seventh round draft pick

910
00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:37,759
Speaker 1: into that NIX and having those three guys compete for

911
00:44:37,880 --> 00:44:40,319
Speaker 1: running back too, Is that you know the best way

912
00:44:40,360 --> 00:44:41,640
Speaker 1: to go about this is the way to get the

913
00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:43,799
Speaker 1: best option behind on Snackler. I don't think so. So

914
00:44:43,840 --> 00:44:45,399
Speaker 1: it feels like it's going to be a veteran or

915
00:44:45,680 --> 00:44:48,040
Speaker 1: they might spend an early draft pick on a running back.

916
00:44:48,200 --> 00:44:51,160
Speaker 1: But that's absolutely a position that they have to improve

917
00:44:51,200 --> 00:44:55,560
Speaker 1: at this offseason. When was Jonathan Taylor drafted being a

918
00:44:55,680 --> 00:44:59,120
Speaker 1: second he was the first round pick? Was her first round? Like,

919
00:44:59,200 --> 00:45:03,239
Speaker 1: I'm like ninety nine CenTra late first round pick? I mean,

920
00:45:03,280 --> 00:45:05,239
Speaker 1: I only I only bring him up. No, he was

921
00:45:05,280 --> 00:45:08,359
Speaker 1: the forty first pick overall, so he was a second round.

922
00:45:08,520 --> 00:45:11,720
Speaker 1: It was a second round, and he was an MVP

923
00:45:11,880 --> 00:45:15,840
Speaker 1: candidate last year. So I just I look at this

924
00:45:16,040 --> 00:45:21,120
Speaker 1: charges offense, which is so explosive with Justin, and Austin

925
00:45:21,200 --> 00:45:23,960
Speaker 1: has admittedly said, listen, I'm at my best when I'm

926
00:45:23,960 --> 00:45:27,640
Speaker 1: fresh and I'm touching the ball fifteen times a game. Man.

927
00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:31,120
Speaker 1: I'm just saying, if you bring in a bellcal it

928
00:45:31,160 --> 00:45:34,080
Speaker 1: really changes maybe the way that they play offense, the

929
00:45:34,120 --> 00:45:38,680
Speaker 1: way that you're defended, and it adds another dimension, like

930
00:45:38,680 --> 00:45:41,120
Speaker 1: you just said, AFC West down with Russell Wilson in

931
00:45:41,160 --> 00:45:44,120
Speaker 1: the mix. This division is on fire right now, and

932
00:45:44,320 --> 00:45:48,480
Speaker 1: Tom admittedly said we can't take a step back on offense.

933
00:45:48,480 --> 00:45:52,040
Speaker 1: So whether that means adding another wide receiver or really

934
00:45:52,560 --> 00:45:55,880
Speaker 1: making that running game even more explosive than it was

935
00:45:56,000 --> 00:45:57,800
Speaker 1: last year, I think I think all options are on

936
00:45:57,840 --> 00:46:00,960
Speaker 1: the table. Honestly, Yeah, I think you hit on all

937
00:46:00,960 --> 00:46:03,520
Speaker 1: the key key positions. Offensively, they got to get better

938
00:46:03,600 --> 00:46:07,080
Speaker 1: protecting on the right side. So you know, I'm convinced

939
00:46:07,080 --> 00:46:08,239
Speaker 1: at this point that they're not going to go into

940
00:46:08,239 --> 00:46:10,080
Speaker 1: the season with storm Norton as it starting right tackle.

941
00:46:10,600 --> 00:46:14,000
Speaker 1: They're going to add somebody there to add minimum, provide competition,

942
00:46:14,040 --> 00:46:16,320
Speaker 1: maybe create a three way battle between trade it Againstorming

943
00:46:16,320 --> 00:46:18,960
Speaker 1: Norton and you know, either a veteran or an early

944
00:46:19,040 --> 00:46:20,719
Speaker 1: draft pick. I think they're going to add a tight end,

945
00:46:21,239 --> 00:46:22,920
Speaker 1: wide receiver. I think they're gonna add some speed, and

946
00:46:22,920 --> 00:46:25,000
Speaker 1: then running back too, and those are the areas where

947
00:46:25,040 --> 00:46:27,440
Speaker 1: they can improve. It was a really good offense last year,

948
00:46:27,440 --> 00:46:29,320
Speaker 1: but if they can make upgrades at those four spots,

949
00:46:29,680 --> 00:46:31,520
Speaker 1: you know, you're you know, you have the possibility of

950
00:46:31,520 --> 00:46:33,560
Speaker 1: being the best offense in football. That's certainly on the table.

951
00:46:33,560 --> 00:46:35,960
Speaker 1: With the way Justin Herbert is playing in the weapons

952
00:46:35,960 --> 00:46:38,960
Speaker 1: that they have offensively every time I talk to you,

953
00:46:38,960 --> 00:46:40,239
Speaker 1: but I look at the clock and I'm like, dude,

954
00:46:40,239 --> 00:46:43,040
Speaker 1: we could go another hour. You gotta hit you gotta

955
00:46:43,080 --> 00:46:47,000
Speaker 1: hit the slopes. I'll end with this your your gut

956
00:46:47,040 --> 00:46:50,520
Speaker 1: at seventeen, after being at the combine and realizing that

957
00:46:50,560 --> 00:46:53,880
Speaker 1: this is going to completely change after free agency always

958
00:46:53,880 --> 00:46:55,799
Speaker 1: dictates what you do in the draft, I think, yeah,

959
00:46:55,800 --> 00:46:59,319
Speaker 1: so you know, but you're good at seventeen because there

960
00:46:59,360 --> 00:47:01,839
Speaker 1: are literally like four or five different positions. I think

961
00:47:01,840 --> 00:47:07,520
Speaker 1: the Chargers would be comfortable at getting like a quality starter. Yeah.

962
00:47:07,840 --> 00:47:09,920
Speaker 1: Right now, I'm at Jordan Davis. That's where I'm at,

963
00:47:10,080 --> 00:47:13,520
Speaker 1: just because I go back to Brandon Saley's press conference

964
00:47:13,520 --> 00:47:17,920
Speaker 1: after the season and he said that improving and bolstering

965
00:47:17,920 --> 00:47:19,359
Speaker 1: the defensive line is going to be at the center

966
00:47:19,360 --> 00:47:21,680
Speaker 1: of our thought process moving forward. And I don't think

967
00:47:21,680 --> 00:47:23,520
Speaker 1: it was a mistake that he said that that is

968
00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:26,560
Speaker 1: priority number one. And when you have a guy like

969
00:47:26,600 --> 00:47:28,719
Speaker 1: Jordan Davis, I know there's some concerns about how many

970
00:47:28,760 --> 00:47:32,000
Speaker 1: snaps he played and some endurance issues, but he is

971
00:47:32,760 --> 00:47:35,279
Speaker 1: a type of player as a run defender who can

972
00:47:35,320 --> 00:47:39,479
Speaker 1: completely change how you defend the run. I just talked

973
00:47:39,480 --> 00:47:41,279
Speaker 1: to Money about this. Hey, he may not be there

974
00:47:41,320 --> 00:47:45,879
Speaker 1: at seventeen anymore. And b I think he can rush

975
00:47:45,880 --> 00:47:48,520
Speaker 1: to quarterback, Like yeah, if you look at it, if

976
00:47:48,520 --> 00:47:50,040
Speaker 1: you look at this Gubbay, I think he can rush

977
00:47:50,080 --> 00:47:52,840
Speaker 1: to quarterback. So I don't necessarily look at him as

978
00:47:52,880 --> 00:47:57,320
Speaker 1: a two doubt player anymore. No, No, but I mean eventually,

979
00:47:57,360 --> 00:47:58,680
Speaker 1: I think he could get there. But you don't need

980
00:47:58,760 --> 00:48:02,120
Speaker 1: him to be that right away. I mean because because Frankly,

981
00:48:02,120 --> 00:48:03,480
Speaker 1: and I know fans are not gonna like this, but

982
00:48:03,560 --> 00:48:06,600
Speaker 1: Jerry Tillery is an above average pass rusher. But if

983
00:48:06,600 --> 00:48:09,120
Speaker 1: you can get him into if you can get him

984
00:48:09,120 --> 00:48:11,719
Speaker 1: into a rotational role where you're just maximizing that part

985
00:48:11,719 --> 00:48:13,480
Speaker 1: of his skill set, you're not forcing him to defend

986
00:48:13,480 --> 00:48:15,000
Speaker 1: the run on first the second down, all of a sudden,

987
00:48:15,040 --> 00:48:17,319
Speaker 1: he's a pretty useful player. So you take Jordan Davis.

988
00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:20,680
Speaker 1: If Jordan Davis is there at seventeen, right, you take

989
00:48:20,760 --> 00:48:25,000
Speaker 1: Jordan Davis. You signed to free agent defensive lineman. Let's

990
00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:27,759
Speaker 1: just throw some names out there. DJ Jones, Sebastian Joseph Day,

991
00:48:28,120 --> 00:48:30,719
Speaker 1: you bring Jerry Tillery back, you resign Justin Jones. All

992
00:48:30,760 --> 00:48:32,440
Speaker 1: of a sudden, you've got a group of five guys

993
00:48:32,440 --> 00:48:34,799
Speaker 1: that you feel really good about, right, you can rush

994
00:48:34,840 --> 00:48:36,520
Speaker 1: the pass or you can defend the run. You've got

995
00:48:36,560 --> 00:48:39,040
Speaker 1: some talent up there, and that's something they have to fix.

996
00:48:39,040 --> 00:48:40,440
Speaker 1: And I know that fans are looking to other parts

997
00:48:40,480 --> 00:48:41,799
Speaker 1: of the team, being like they could you know, they

998
00:48:41,800 --> 00:48:43,799
Speaker 1: could take a tackle, they could take these you know,

999
00:48:43,960 --> 00:48:47,879
Speaker 1: players at other and more premium positions. But go back

1000
00:48:47,880 --> 00:48:50,480
Speaker 1: to why they why this season ended. They couldn't get

1001
00:48:50,520 --> 00:48:53,040
Speaker 1: a run stop on third and four. That's the reality

1002
00:48:53,040 --> 00:48:54,680
Speaker 1: of the situation. When they need to get a run

1003
00:48:54,680 --> 00:48:56,759
Speaker 1: stop there against the Raiders to prevent them for kicking

1004
00:48:56,800 --> 00:48:58,920
Speaker 1: that field goal, they could not get it. Yeah, with

1005
00:48:59,000 --> 00:49:01,400
Speaker 1: their best players on the field, right, And so that's

1006
00:49:01,440 --> 00:49:03,799
Speaker 1: the issue that they have to fix. And so you know,

1007
00:49:03,840 --> 00:49:06,560
Speaker 1: I you know, we end up overthinking this because there's

1008
00:49:06,560 --> 00:49:09,279
Speaker 1: so many months that we end up covering the draft, right.

1009
00:49:09,520 --> 00:49:11,480
Speaker 1: But if there's a clear need like that, and there's

1010
00:49:11,480 --> 00:49:14,200
Speaker 1: a player where the value fits the need, it just

1011
00:49:14,280 --> 00:49:16,239
Speaker 1: makes too much sense. And I'm at this point, I'm

1012
00:49:16,239 --> 00:49:18,160
Speaker 1: not overthinking it. I think if Jordan Davis is there

1013
00:49:18,200 --> 00:49:21,920
Speaker 1: at seventeen to slam dunk O agreed, we got a

1014
00:49:21,920 --> 00:49:23,760
Speaker 1: lot of time to talk about it. In the meantime,

1015
00:49:23,960 --> 00:49:26,520
Speaker 1: you got to hit the slopes, get ready for free

1016
00:49:26,520 --> 00:49:30,000
Speaker 1: agency next week. That's gonna do it for us. Appreciate

1017
00:49:30,040 --> 00:49:32,560
Speaker 1: that money Smith hopped on a little bit earlier. Daniel

1018
00:49:32,560 --> 00:49:35,640
Speaker 1: Popper is always I'm Chris hay Read. This has been

1019
00:49:35,719 --> 00:49:40,239
Speaker 1: Chargers Weekly. Next week we'll tackle free agency. Thanks for

1020
00:49:40,280 --> 00:49:40,799
Speaker 1: having Chris